Anna-Jane Casey is at the moment starring as Cilla the Goose in Mother Goose alongside Ian McKellen and John Bishop. Mother Goose beforehand performed Duke of York’s Theatre in London earlier than touring varied cities. The present is touring to Liverpool, Oxford, Leicester, Dublin Cardiff, Salford and Bristol till mid April.
Anna-Jane Casey has most not too long ago been seen within the Olivier Award profitable revival of Cabaret on the Kit Kat Club starring as Fraulein Kost, and her prolific stage profession contains the West End productions of Billy Elliot, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Spamalot, Stepping Out, Chicago, Grease and a lot extra. On tv you’ll have seen her in Silent Witness, Coronation Street, The Royal and Doctors amongst different appearances.
You’re at the moment starring in Mother Goose, written by the fantastic Jonathan Harvey. How has the run been to this point?
The run has been wonderful to this point! We began previews early December in Brighton – we’d do a present after which all run round doing our Christmas procuring.
The present was in Brighton earlier than discovering a house over Christmas within the West End. How did the audiences differ?
What is your favorite second within the present?Oscar Conlon-Morrey – why that boy doesn’t have his personal main comedy present is past me! Anytime Oscar is on the stage is pleasure personified for me, he’s a beautiful human being, and cracks me up each night time. But additionally, Richard Leeming, who performs Bat, any time he’s onstage is fantastic.
What has it been like working with Sir Ian McKellen? I wish to suppose he recites Shakespeare in his dressing room for enjoyable…
What can I say! The phrases ‘living legend’ are banded about an excessive amount of, however he’s. I had an important chat with him the opposite day about his upbringing and changing into an actor. When he completed college, he went round all of the rep corporations and learnt on the commerce – the person has by no means educated. I pleasure myself on the truth that I by no means went to Drama School and educated. I take a look at Ian McKellen who has performed each Shakespeare character and starred in main motion pictures, and he’s essentially the most joyous, type, humorous, impolite, and saucy man. He’s a beautiful man and it’s an honour to carry his hand on stage. I can’t imagine my luck after I’m standing subsequent to Magneto! Magneto is my buddy!
And what’s it like starring with John Bishop?
I grew to like John Bishop in the course of the rehearsal course of. He is the kindest, funniest, warmest, sweetest, and beneficiant man. He works so laborious; he deserves a relaxation – I sound like his spouse! He’s the toughest working man in present enterprise and I really like him immensely.
What was the primary pantomime you went to as an viewers member?I feel it might need been Jack and the Beanstalk in Manchester after I was about 6 or 7 years previous. They known as for kids to come back up on stage, and earlier than they even completed their sentence I used to be out of my seat. I simply keep in mind being on the stage, looking at a sea of individuals, singing alongside and having the perfect time!
They say that panto is among the hardest jobs on the market. Did you handle to have a Christmas of your personal?
We did, we have been very fortunate this 12 months. We had Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day off, which is commonly unparalleled! We had a pleasant Christmas… I did simply lie down and eat cake although.
Lots of West End theatregoers will know you out of your acclaimed run as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie within the lauded revival Cabaret. Would you wish to see that type of immersive theatre, as seen on the Kit Kat Club, achieved extra within the West End?
I want to see extra. There are rather a lot at the moment, comparable to Punchdrunk, which is a good immersive theatre firm. You’re getting 4-hours of leisure, a minimum of! Theatre is a artistic and collaborative setting, which entails the viewers as effectively. If the viewers aren’t becoming a member of in, then the work as an actor is admittedly laborious. It’s a dwell immersive expertise, even when it’s not billed as one – that’s what I’m discovering on this panto. Once the viewers take part everybody has a good time. To hear a room full of individuals connecting is a superb factor – it’s the human situation, all of us need to join.
If you could possibly revive some other musical within the West End, what wouldn’t it be?
Bring again Starlight Express! You know you’re working laborious once you’re doing Starlight – that was an incredible present to do. I don’t know if I’d do it now at my age, however after I was 26 I cherished it.
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You’ve had many, many roles on the West End. Which has been the largest problem for you?I’ve performed a variety of lead roles, however after I was first given the chance to do an enormous present, I used to be Velma Kelly in Chicago within the West End. I can keep in mind the primary night time. My dad and mom have been there, my dad got here into my dressing room, and I used to be in tears saying, ‘I can’t do it, it’s an excessive amount of stress.’ My dad held me, and he mentioned, ‘You’ve fought all of your life to be on the entrance, you deserve it, and you’re sensible’. My largest problem was actually getting over my very own concern.
And which has been your favorite?
It has received to be West Side Story. It’s the place I met my husband and we’ve been married for 25 years. It’s nonetheless the best present ever written – musically, lyrically, and script.
And relating to pantomime – aside from the plain variations – how does it differ to being in a West End musical?
Pantos are completely different as a result of most West End exhibits don’t ask you to be concerned (apart from Cabaret). In a panto you will have the take part – the viewers are requested to, from ‘its behind you’ to ‘oh no it isn’t’. If you’re coming to a panto anticipating to do nothing you may as effectively simply go house.
And seeking to the long run, what would you wish to be subsequent for you?
I need my new kitchen to be achieved – it’s been a piece in progress since I used to be in Cabaret, and it’s nonetheless not achieved. So subsequent for me is holding myself and my kids alive and getting my kitchen redone!
Interview by Jordan Lloyd Beck